The beginning of 2008 God inspired a family ministry called Emerging Life Ministries. At first it was more of an idea than reality but He is gradually unfolding His purpose for this ministry. May He emerge more deeply in your life through this ministry. Visit the complete website at www.emerginglifeministries.net

Monday, January 7, 2013

Extraordinary by Association

“Elijah was a man just
like us.He prayed earnestly…Again he
prayed, and the heavens gave rain…” James 5:17-18.“When
they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled,
ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been
with Jesus” Acts 4:13.

Throughout time, men and women have done extraordinary things
out of their ordinary lives through the empowerment of God.Very rarely did God use the brightest and
best to accomplish His works.Most
frequently God called ordinary people to accomplish things that were far beyond
their abilities up to that point in their lives.

The same has happened in my life as I began studying
Scripture, spending time in prayer and focusing on an intimate relationship
with God.I have never had any formal
training in writing or applying Scripture.This ordinary and unschooled gal finally got with the spiritual program
7 years ago and turned my face upon Jesus.Amazing things have happened since I started being with Jesus…things far beyond my own abilities.Many times when someone has sent me a comment
on one of my devotionals I love to go back and reread it with their
circumstances in mind.I am always
amazed at how the writing spoke directly to their situation, and how personal
the message was from God to them.It is
at these moments that I know that our extraordinary God is doing so much
through His ordinary children.

I love the quote from Henry Varley which doesn’t omit any of
us in dealing with our God extraordinaire.‘The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and
in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”God has a plan for each of our lives, not
just a good plan but a great plan.If we
will just pursue Him with the passion of our hearts and open up our ordinary
lives, we will be used in a mighty way.

…and all will be ‘astonished
as they take note that we have been with Jesus.’